Rachel Roland is a mom on a mission - exploring the Valley with her two little companions in search of the best restaurants, attractions, and products for you and your children. See what she has in store for your family today!

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope your New Years celebrations were beautiful and safe - we had a great weekend with family and friends. Can I suggest, if you're into resolutions, that you make a resolution to try Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert?

Located in beautiful Agritopia in Gilbert, Joe's Farm Grill is no stranger to good press. From being featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" on the Food Network, to Arizona Foothills Magazine's 5o Best Restaurants list, they've garnered accolades from across the country. And I'm throwing my hat in as a big fan, too!

Breakfast is lovely at Joe's - we've been many times (when we make it to this part of the Valley), and one thing that you absolutely need to try are the Apple Fritters. These little fried, freshly made, warm fritters are sure to satisfy - you can either share or get an order for yourself. Their omelettes and scrambles are delicious and filling.

This particular day, we stopped at Joe's for lunch, and I had their Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with coleslaw. Typically, I order buffalo chicken for one thing - the blue cheese dressing. Normally, you can't expect much - most restaurants used bottled blue cheese. which is okay. However, Joe's must make their own because it was just as good as my homemade dressing! If you're a blue cheese fan, I can say with quite a bit of confidence you'll love Joe's version.

The kids both opted to have the chicken tenders with fries. The portions were huge, which I wasn't expecting - my two little ones could have easly split one of these meals instead of each having their own. Many restaurants skimp out on 'kids' menu items, so it was nice to see such a healthy portion for the price.

When we visited, it was nice outside but not nice enough to sit outside, but the outside seating area is great - there are picnic tables and a patio with heaters. It's a fun place to let the kids run around while you're waiting for your food - and there will be a wait. This isn't because Joe's is slow to get food out of the kitchen, it's because there are so many other customers. They make everything to order, and this good food takes time, so be sure to go when you have some time to relax and enjoy the time with your family.

Across the street, you can view the Agritopia community gardens. These are fun to run around on and burn off some post-breakfast or lunch energy.

Overall, Joe's Farm Grill is a great place to visit in Gilbert - the food is excellent, the produce is fresh and local, and we always have a good experience.

Joe's Farm Grill is located at 3000 East Ray Road in Gilbert - just off the 202 and Higley Rd. They're open daily from 8am-9pm.

I'm Rachel - a mom, wife, and 'green' blogger at Small Steps On Our Journey. If you have any suggestions for future articles or any questions on this one, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tweet me @rachelroland!